Alma04

11-5-04 By: Brian Vaughn
   Alma- The Greenwood-Alma rivalry is one of the top rivalries in the entire state, but maybe the only rivalry where the two teams respect each other as much as these two do.
   This years clash between the Bulldogs and Airedales was billed as the game to be at in the entire state and over 8,200 witnessed what could be the best high school game in the state this year.
   The first quarter was a fast and furious 12 minutes of high school football with Alma (10-0, 7-0) finding the end zone first at the 9:31 mark after Alma quarterback Joseph Medeiros found a hole and went 36-yards for a touchdown.
   The Airedale defense held Greenwood to 3 and out on their first possession.
   Medeiros again would call his own number with 6:25 to go in the first quarter as he kept the option and scampered down the Greenwood sideline 63-yards for a touchdown to put the Airedales up 14-0 after Ryan Evans extra point was good.
   Jacobs Mills showed on the ensuing kickoff that the Bulldogs might be down, but they weren't out, as he returned the kickoff 44-yards to give the Bulldogs good field position in Alma territory.
   Greenwood quarterback Daniel Stegall found Eric Melton three plays later up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Mason Knox's extra point was good to pull the Bulldogs to 14-7 with 4:51 to go in the first quarter.
   The Bulldog defense feeding off the momentum of the offense held Alma to 3 and out on their next possession.
   The Greenwood air attack would be back in full swing with strikes to Miller and Melton to move the Bulldogs into Airedale territory.
   Then it was Miller time as Stegall went back and threw up a bomb to Lucas Miller who was in double coverage, but went up and even though was being interfered with made an unbelievable catch for a touchdown to tie the game up 14-14 with 1:58 to go in still in the first quarter.
   The defenses slugged it out during the second quarter with Alma scoring the game winning 24-yard field goal with 12 seconds before the half.
   The second half went back and fourth with both teams in this heavy weight fight for the AAAA-West conference title.
    Greenwood (8-2, 6-1) was inside Alma territory three times in the second half, but failed to score.
   The Bulldogs were able to move the ball, but untimely penalties cost them at crucial times during the second half.
   "Crucial penalties at crucial times that's part of the game," said Greenwood head coach Rick Jones. "You either have to not commit them or you have to over come them and we over come some, but not enough against a good football team, Alma's a good team."
   The match up with Alma was Jones first as head coach of the Bulldogs and although disappointed in the outcome was proud of his team.
   "Our kids played their hearts out," said Jones. "In terms of effort, I've never had a group of kids try any harder to win a game then these guys did."
    It's now a four game season for the Bulldogs and Coach Jones is glad to have the opportunity to play some more games.
   "We have a lot of work to do," said Jones. "I told our kids, I'm glad this isn't there last game because I like going to battle with these guys, they're a great bunch of kids."
The first round of the AAAA state playoffs get underway this Friday.
   Greenwood #2 will be at home against the #3 seed out of the East Blytheville (8-2, 5-2).
   Alma #1 will host the #4 seed out of the East Paragould #4. While Siloam Springs #3 travels to Batesville #2 and Vilonia #4 travels to Wynne #1.